Melchizedek

Michelzedek Malki-tzédek , Malchizedek, Melchisedec ,Melchizadek,

Who or what was/is Melchizedek,  a mysterious enigmatic figure from religious history.

 


Content

  1. Translation of  Melchizedek [Etymology]
  2. Michelzedek as Shem [the son of Noah.]
  3. Michelzedek as Jesus and the Archangel Michael
  4. Dead Sea Scroll references to Melchizedek
  5. Coptic and Gnostic References to Melchizedek
  6. Mormon references to Melchizedek
  7. Nestorian "Heresy"
  8. Masonic Order of Melchizedek
  9. Miscellaneous references to Melchizedek

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The word melchizedek is most likely derived from a combination of the Hebrew words melchi  {or meleck} which means King .

Zedek translates to righteousness or Justice. and was a common Trans-cultural word of the ancient Middle East. For instance In Phoenician mythology Sydik, is the father of the angels of the divine presence.  So using the two root words for his name/title we can assume that Mechilzedek is the King of righteousness/justice.

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However when Melchizedek first appears in the Cannonical Old Testament in Genesis Chapter 14  he is presented as the King of the City of Salem.  Salem is a derivative of the word Shalom, which means "peace." Salem was also the name for the Babylonian god Shalmanu, {god of twilight.}

The Babylonian name for Salem was Urusalim which meant the foundation of the God named Salem, or the god of peace. The Salem that Mechelzedek was king of is Urusalim / Jerusalem.


Michelzedek the King of Salem, associated with  peace and righteousness and by default of his title King of Salem we could also say he is/was the King of Peace & Righteousness. As well as a secular ruler of the Holy city of Jerusalem.

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Melchizedek first appeared in the Canonical Old Testament as the "king of Salem" bringing bread and wine ( a communion/mass ?}  to Abraham after his victory in "The Battle Of The Kings"  {Gen 14:1-11} four kings had besieged Sodom and Gomorrah and captured Abrahams {Abram} nephew Lot .

 

Abraham musters his forces and rescues his relative Lot. After the battle  Melchizedek blesses Abraham and In turn, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of the bounty that had taken in battle. 

 

Genesis Chapter 14  11 The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. 13One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother  of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ...

 

 Jerusalem's king during the Israelite invasion of Canaan had a similar name of Adonizedek.

 

Joshua 10:1 Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed  it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and were living near them.

 

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Adonizedek translates to  "lord of Zedek" , as we have previously stated zedek means righteousness ,therefore Adonizedek also means Lord or King of Righteousness, and there is every probability the Adonizedek and Mechilzedek may be one and the same. .............So Melchizedek is Adonizedek, and Adonizedek is the Lord or King of Righteousness, and we still don't know who Melchizedek is other than the King of Salem / King of Righteousness, Peace and Justice.


Michelzedek as Shem [the son of Noah.]   <PageTop

 Several Hebrew rabbinical sources make the claim that Michelzedek was actually Shem the son of Noah.

The Palestinian Targum (Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel) on Genesis 14:18 says Melchizedek was “Shem son of Noah, the king of Yerushalem.”

Shem is generally regarded as the eldest son of Noah, though some traditions regard him as the second son. He is mentioned in Genesis 5:32, 6:10; 7:13; 9:18,23,26-27; 10; 11:10;  1 Chronicles 1:4.

The Hebrew race traces their origins from Shem.  Semitic deriving from "Shem" has been used to refer to Jews as well as closely related races of the Middle East. Many scholars have argued that Abram and Shem were not contemporaries. However the Book of Jasher   which is mentioned in the Old Testament , and was only rediscovered in the nineteenth Century claims they did coexist on this Earth.

Jasher 24:13 - 17
:13 And Abraham buried Sarah with pomp as observed at the interment of kings, and she was buried in very fine and beautiful garments.

:14 And at her bier was Shem, his sons Eber and Abimelech, together with Anar, Ashcol and Mamre, and all the grandees of the land followed her bier.

:15 And the days of Sarah were one hundred and twenty seven years and she died, and Abraham made a great and heavy mourning, and he performed the rites of mourning for seven days.

:16 And all the inhabitants of the land comforted Abraham and Isaac his son on account of Sarah.

:17 And when the days of their mourning passed by
Abraham sent away his son Isaac, and he went to the house of Shem and Eber, to learn the ways of the Lord and his instructions, and Abraham remained there three years.


Jasher 28:17 - 25

:17 And after this Shelach the son of Arphachshad died in that year, which is the eighteenth year of the lives of Jacob and Esau; and all the days that Shelach lived were four hundred and thirty-three years and he died.

:18 At that time Isaac sent his younger son Jacob to the house of Shem and Eber, and he learned the instructions of the Lord, and Jacob remained in the house of Shem and Eber for thirty-two years, and Esau his brother did not go, for he was not willing to go, and he remained in his father's house in the land of Canaan.

:24 And it came to pass in those days, in the hundred and tenth year of the life of Isaac, that is in the fiftieth year of the life of Jacob, in that year died Shem the son of Noah; Shem was six hundred years old at his death.

:25 And when Shem died Jacob returned to his father to Hebron which is in the land of Canaan.

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Rabbinical references to the Shem / Michelzedek scenario tend to equate him as the Secular King of  Salem and only very vaguely can this be construed to allude to the mystical aspect of  Melchizedek/ Michelzedek which later tradition endows.

 


 

Dead Sea Scroll references to Melchizedek      <PageTop

In the Dead Sea Scrolls a series of thirteen fragments were found pertaining to Melchizedek. Belief that Melchizedek was a/the Messiah was a strongly held conviction among the Qumran community, as well as other Jewish and Gnostic sects of the first century A.D.
 

Dead Sea Scroll: 11Q13, Column 2

(...) And concerning what Scripture says, "In this year of Jubilee you shall return, everyone f you, to your property" (Lev. 25;13) And what is also written; "And this is the manner of the remission; every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because God`s remission has been proclaimed" (Deut.15;2) the interpretation is that it applies to the Last Days and concerns the captives, just as Isaiah said: "To proclaim the Jubilee to the captives" (Isa. 61;1) (...) just as (...) and from the inheritance of Melchizedek, for (... Melchizedek), who will return them to what is rightfully theirs. He will proclaim to them the Jubilee, thereby releasing them from the debt of all their sins. He shall proclaim this decree in the first week of the jubilee period that follows nine jubilee periods. Then the "Day of Atonement" shall follow after the tenth jubilee period, when he shall atone for all the Sons of Light, and the people who are predestined to Melchizedek. (...) upon them (...) For this is the time decreed for the "Year of Melchizedek`s favour", and by his might he will judge God`s holy ones and so establish a righteous kingdom, as it is written about him in the Songs of David ; "A godlike being has taken his place in the council of God; in the midst of divine beings he holds judgement" (ps. 82;1). Scripture also says about him ; "Over it take your seat in the highest heaven; A divine being will judge the peoples" (Ps. 7;7-8) Concerning what scripture says ; " How long will you judge unjustly , and show partiality with the wicked? Selah" (Ps. 82;2), the interpretation applies to Belial and the spirits predestined to him, because all of them have rebelled, turning from God`s precepts and so becoming utterly wicked. Therefore Melchizedek will thoroughly prosecute the vengeance required by God`s statutes. Also, he will deliver all the captives from the power of Belial, and from the power of all the spirits destined to him. Allied with him will be all the "righteous divine beings"(Isa. 61;3). (The ...) is that whi(ch ...all) the divine beings.

The visitation is the Day of Salvation that He has decreed through Isaiah the prophet concerning all the captives, inasmuch as Scripture says, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion "Your divine being reigns"." (Isa. 52;7) This scriptures' interpretation: "the mountains" are the prophets, they who were sent to proclaim God`s truth and to prophesy to all Israel. "The messengers" is the Anointed of the spirit, of whom Daniel spoke; "After the sixty-two weeks, an Anointed shall be cut off" (Dan. 9;26) The "messenger who brings good news, who announces Salvation" is the one of whom it is written; "to proclaim the year of the LORD`s favour, the day of the vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn" (Isa. 61;2) This scripture`s interpretation: he is to instruct them about all the periods of history for eternity (... and in the statutes) of the truth. (...) (.... dominion) that passes from Belial and returns to the Sons of Light (....) (...) by the judgment of God, just as it is written concerning him; "who says to Zion "Your divine being reigns" (Isa. 52;7) "Zion" is the congregation of all the sons of righteousness, who uphold the covenant and turn from walking in the way of the people. "Your divine being" is Melchizedek, who will deliver them from the power of Belial. Concerning what scripture says, "Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud; in the seventh month . . . " (Lev. 25;9)

 

 

Dictionary of Angels: Including the Fallen Angels

"The heavenly deliverer is Melchizedek. Identical with the Archangel Michael, he is head of the 'Sons of Heaven,' or 'God's of Justice' and is referred to as Elohim and 'el'... Here Melchizedek is portrayed as presiding over the final judgment and condemnation of his demonic counterpart Belial/ Satan, the Prince of Darkness... The great act of deliverance is expected to occur on the Day of Atonement at the end of the tenth Jubilee cycle."   Vermes, Geza. The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English

In The  “War Scroll” (1QM 13:10; 16:6-8; 17:7) Melchizedek appears to be the archangel Michael, who is “the prince of light” (1QM 13:10-11; cf. 1QS 2:20-22; CD 5:17-19) and “the angel of [God's] truth” (1QS 3:24)



 

Michelzedek as Jesus and the Archangel Michael   <PageTop

In the New Testament when the Paulists/ Christians attempted to show the lineage of Yeshua/Jesus both deviating Genealogies found in Luke and Matthew go in an unbroken line  through Shem to Abraham and David and then in deviating paths to Jesus.  

So in essence Christ of the Canonical Gospels was presented as an heir to the Title of Michelzedek.  And Michelzedek may be just that, a Title, the same as Jesus Christ is a Title not a name - Michelzedek at the time of Abram/Abraham was Shem.  Shem is a priest forever as per  Psalm 110:4  The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."  Psalm 110:4 names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained. The future king –Jesus in the Christian religion-

Many Scholars seem to believe that Christianity ,Catholicism in particular has Melchizedek morphing into the Archangel Michael, which would seem to be at odds with some, but not all ancient writings. For instance the Dead Sea Scrolls mention Melchizedek as the prince of  light and assigns some attributes to him which the Catholics assign to Michael. The The Book Of Adam And Eve, however has an interaction between Michael and Melchizedek as separate entities. 

Philo, a prolific first-century Jewish philosopher  interprets the text of Genesis in an allegorical format, seeing Melchizedek as a reference to the divine Logos, the thought of God in which the pattern of all existing things is conceived and the "image" of God according to which man was created. Christians believe that Jesus is the Logos, the word of God become flesh ...John 1:1 "In the beginning was the [Logos] Word, and the [Logos] Word was with God, and the [Logos] Word was God." .... "14 ..The [Logos] Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. ... "  See Jesus - Myth Transference

Michelzedek then is an early archetypical / prototype of The Logos become flesh. Which existed long before the timeframe the Christian Gospels tell us that the "Word became flesh" . That Christianity borrowed from other Religions in creating the Deified Christ is undeniable . The proofs are extensive and exhaustive. The Mythological deified Jesus Christ remotely resembles the actual Historical Jesus Christ.
 

The Nestorian heresy  

Nestorius was deposed at the council of Ephesus in 431 AD, The Nestorian Church moved eastward . The dispute concerned an early Christian doctrine of reincarnation as well the Nestorian idea that Christ had a dual nature. Jesus was a Mortal / Human Master , while Christ was Melchizedek.


 

Coptic Gnostic References to Melchizedek   <PageTop

The Books of Jeu are part of the New Testament apocrypha the earliest known copy  written in Coptic, it is part of the Bruce Codex {found in Egypt by a Scottish traveler, James Bruce in about 1769.} The Books of Jeu consist of mystic incantations and diagrams, often including concentric Circles, disks, spheres  and squares. It is Gnostic in nature and was designed to be understood once a certain level of understanding was attained, to the observer who had not attained such a Gnostic  level it would appear extremely obscure as to its meaning .

In the Second Book of Jeu , Jesus prays for "Zorokothora Melchizedek" to "bring the water of the baptism of fire of the Virgin of Light" (presumably heavenly waters of baptism) to the disciples and Melchizedek does so.
 

The Pistis Sophia is a collection of Gnostic traditions  The Melchizedek in this collection is now a Principal Angel enacting an Intervention Pattern, with traces of the Celestial High Priest and Divine Warrior, as is similar to the Archangel Michael. He is a heavenly being whose job is to gather " purified light motes" throughout the universe and deposit them in the Treasury of Light. In  addition, Zorokothora Melchizedek has conflicts with the archons, who destroy as many souls as they are able to. He also struggles with the goddess The Goddess Hekate , archon of the underworld, who holds as many souls prisoner in her underworld realm as she is able to.

 

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 The Masonic Order of the Grand High Priest which can trace it's history as far back as 1780 on paper but believes itself to be of ancient origins states that the Melchizedek priesthood is superior to the priesthood of  Aaron / Moses.

The term Melchizedek Priesthood or order of Melchizedek is used in Masonry as well as Witchcraft and Mormonism. In Masonry, men are anointed priests after the Order of Melchizedek

"According to Jacob Katz, writing in his book, Jews and Freemasons in Europe 1723-1939 , the Rothschilds were one of the rich and powerful Frankfurt families appearing on a Masonic membership list in 1811. The Scottish degrees used in the German lodges were Christian in nature.....Special Jewish lodges were created, such as the Melchizedek lodges named in honor of the Old Testament priest-king...Those who belonged to the Melchizedek lodges were said to be members of the 'Order of Melchizedek'."      - William Bramley, The Gods of Eden
The Ancient Mysteries of Melchizedek

The family of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was known to have been  Masonic that lived by and practiced the tenets of Freemasonry. Joseph Smith, Sr., was a documented member in upstate New York and was raised to the degree of Master Mason in 1818. It is apparent that Smith Jr borrowed elements of Masonic ritual into his new Religion. The Melchizedek rituals are very similar to some practiced in Free Masonry.

In the Book of Mormon Melchizedek is referred to as "the prince of peace". 

Alma 13:18 But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father.

The Melchizedek priesthood is an order within the Mormon church. At the age of twelve young Mormon males are made deacons in the "Aaronite priesthood" {which is considered inferior to the Melchizedek priesthood}, later graduating at the age of 18 to the "Melchizedek priesthood".....Priesthood and Church Government;: A handbook and study course for the quorums of the Melchizedek Priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S.,

Miscellaneous Notes on Michelzedek/Melchizedek.   <PageTop

Hippolytus refers to a sect, followers of one Theodotus who claimed that there was "a great power - Melchizedek who was greater than Christ."

"It is of importance to note that the X sign, which became so hated by the Roman Church, was identified with the archangel Michael (Melchizedek) onwards from Old Testament times. The heritage of St Michael was the dynasty of high Zadok priests — a heritage that prevailed in the continuing Messianic line... Fragments of the Prince Melchizedek Document found among the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate that Melchizedek and Michael were one and the same."  Bloodline of the Holy Grail: The Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed

 

 .....that he offered wine and bread; that he blessed Abraham. For who is more a priest of the most high God than our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered a sacrifice to God the Father, and offered that very same thing which Melchizedek had offered, that is, bread and wine, to wit, His body and blood? Catholic encyclopedia : CAECILIUS, ON THE SACRAMENT OF THE CUP OF THE LORD.

 

The Slavonic Book of Enoch [ 2 Enoch], attests to early Jewish fascination with Melchizedek. A child is born miraculously to Noah's recently deceased sister-in-law, and the child, marked on his chest with a priestly seal, speaks and praises God. The boy is named Melchizedek by Noah and his brother Nir, whose wife had been posthumously delivered. In a nocturnal vision Nir is told of the coming  flood,  and informed that the archangel Michael will bring Melchizedek to paradise, thus enabling him to escape the flood waters. Melchizedek will become the chief of priests , and in the end times he will be revealed yet again as the chief priest. In this text, Melchizedek has three different earthly manifestations: born before the Flood, serving in the postdiluvian age as a great priest, and functioning in the end-time as a messianic priest (cf. Gruenewald, pp. 90-92; Delcor, pp. 127-30).
 

 

Hebrews 5:6
And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
 

Hebrews 6:20
where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:15
And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,


Hebrews 7:17
For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

 

A Priest Forever   <PageTop

 The Book of Psalms names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained.

Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."

 

'These are the two sons of the clear-oil, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." This refers to Aaron and the Messiah, and we do not know who is more beloved; but as it is written, (Psa. 110:4): 'The Lord hath sworn and will not repent of it, 'Thou shalt be a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."  - Babylonian Talmud
 

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